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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Welcome Scott Pinsker Author of The Second Coming: A Love Story

WELCOME AUTHOR

SCOTT PINSKER

Author bio:

A nationally-recognized Public Relations expert, Scott
Pinsker has worked with professional athletes, musicians, comedians and countless
celebs-in-peril, managing everything from crisis communications to reputation
management. His analysis of publicity trends and political brand-building
tactics has been featured on FOXNews.com, the Washington Times and Jewish World
Review.

Pinsker developed the concept for The Second Coming: A Love Story almost 15 years
ago, while attending law school in Washington, DC. As the author tells
it:

“According to Christian theology, the Devil is
thousands of years old and deviously brilliant. I remember wondering one
night, if such a creature didn’t want you to know who he was… how would you
know? How could you out-think a creature that’s not only smarter than
you, but also thousands of years more experienced and capable of supernatural
powers? We get fooled by ordinary people every day – and most of the
time, they’re not particularly clever! So what prayer would we
realistically have to outwit the Prince of Darkness?

Then I had a further thought: If the Devil really
wanted to con mankind, he wouldn’t appear with a pitchfork and horns. All
those horror movies have it wrong; that’s too obvious. Instead, his best
option would be to appear as a holy man – and to attach himself to the faith of
his target audience. Because if I were Satan’s publicist, that’s what I’d
recommend.

For the last 15 years, I’ve been obsessively
researching the subject matter, studying ancient texts and combing through the
delicate intricacies of Christian eschatology. The end-result is The
Second Coming: A Love Story. You needn’t be a theologist to enjoy this “thought-experiment”
but it certainly won’t hurt: I’ve woven-in countless clues and subtle
references to the identity of the true Second Coming – and to the identity of
Satan – throughout. No matter your faith, no matter your background, this
book will challenge you to reconsider the very nature of existence. And
that’s the God-honest truth.”

Scott Pinsker lives in Tampa Bay, Florida, with his
wife, two young boys, two rescue cats and his 220-pound mastiff. This novel
is the first in a trilogy; the follow-up, Three Days Later: A Revenge
Story, will be released in 2015.

Brief synopsis of
your book:

Two men claim to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Each
claims the other is Satan in disguise – but only one is telling the truth, and
the reader isn’t explicitly told who’s who. The United States soon splits
along ideological lines, with Red America swearing allegiance to the
conservative “savior” and Blue America (naturally) worshiping at the altar of
the other. A furious Culture War-turned-Holy War erupts, with both sides
waging a win-at-all-costs marketing campaign to prove their savior’s supremacy.

Adding to the intrigue, the key characters are modernized updates of
Bible heroes.For example, Mary
Magdalene is recast as Margaret Magdala, Esquire – an unscrupulous attorney who
sells her “services” to the highest bidder, until a self-declared savior
rescues her from a lifetime of sin.

But was she really saved?Or
damned to Hell?

And how well do any of us REALLY know the face of God?

Book title:

The Second
Coming: A Love Story

Current book or
project you’re working on:

This is an epic trilogy.I’m currently completing the sequel,

Three
Days Later: A Revenge Story

What moment or
event sparked the inspiration for your novel?

This story is the direct result of a devilish thought-experiment:

If I
were Satan’s publicist… what would be our marketing plan?

Over the years, I’ve worked with a vast array of unusual clients –
including a Pro Bowl NFL quarterback who was incarcerated for dog-fighting, an ex-houseguest
of OJ Simpson, multiple Saturday Night
Live alums, plus tons of Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winners.You know what I learned?No matter their status, no matter their
career trajectory, the one common denominator is that they all have a marketing
plan: Every celebrity has a specific strategy for activating – and then
monetizing – his or her target audience.

For Satan, his objective is obvious: He seeks to induce you to spurn
God and choose him.So what would his
marketing plan be?

Well, a creature as old
& wise as a 6,000 year-old Fallen Angel would recognize that very few
people will do evil in the name of evil – but billions will gladly do evil in
the name of good.

So his best marketing plan would
be to pretend to be a savior. And that’s what The
Second Coming: A Love Story is all about.

Please share
three interesting facts about the characters in your book.

1) All
the major characters are modern updates of Bible characters.

2)Many
of the minor character are parodies of instantly-identifiable pop-culture icons,
especially in talk-radio and cable TV news.

3)Every character is tortured with a
specific moral affliction, and often paired with a character plagued with the
opposite affliction.For example, the
character of Margaret Magdala is haunted by a purposeless existence and a cold,
empty heart.She’s often paired with a
character named Peter Clay: As an addict, he feels and desires too much.

Who is the most
complex character from your current novel?

God (and Satan!)

Are there any
characters in your book that remind you of yourself?

Satan (and God!)

If you could pick
any well known or famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?

Billy Shakespeare.(I suppose I should still refer to him as William Shakespeare, but after
reviewing my story & becoming my friend, I’m pretty sure he’d be cool with
Billy.)

Genre/Author/Reader:

What genre and
age group does your book fall into?

Theo-Thriller / Paranormal / Mystery

What is the first
book you remember reading, that affected how you thought or felt about
something?

I guess the Bible.(Either that or the collection of Playboy Magazines I found in my Dad’s
closet.Nah, let’s go with the Bible.)

Why was the Bible so personally influential?Easy: Not too many books can claim God as the
author.That kinda impressed me.I mean, Seuss was a doctor, and that’s nice…
but the Lord Almighty is on an entirely different level.(Plus, Pop yelled at me when I hopped on
him.)

Which three
authors have inspired you the most, and why?

With your kind permission, may I list four authors – as
well as my favourite book from each?

1)Ayn
Rand – Atlas Shrugged

2)Richard
Bach - Illusions

3)Frederic
Bastiat – The Law

4)George
Carlin – Brain Droppings

Have you ever read
a book you couldn’t wait to finish reading?

Absolutely.It’s the tell-tale sign of a great book. The best stories are the ones that stick with you, even after
you’ve finished reading the final chapter – and better yet, even when you
disagree with the authors’ conclusions. I dig that. It’s what I’ve
strived to emulate in The Second Coming: A Love Story.

Do you read a
book, while you are writing a book?

Yes.Reading is
like breathing… it’s impossible to stop (and certainly not medically
recommended).

The process:

How many books
have you written?

One.(This book is
the first in a three-part series, so I’m writing parts two & three of the
trilogy simultaneously.)

Is there anything
that helps get you in the mood to write?

It depends what I want to write.If I’m tackling something complicated with
multiple moving parts, my preference is Diet Coke & total silence.But if I’m writing about something visceral
or emotionally troubling, I enjoy a few fermented beverages & music.(Which occasionally requires Aspirin and heavy
editing the following morning.Hiccup.)

Music is like a bookmark: Just one song can transport you
to a different time and a different age.Isn’t it funny?The opening notes
of the right song will automatically lead your mind down a long-forgotten corridor…

Sometimes an author must bloody his scars to evoke an
emotional response – and as we all know, alcohol is our PED of choice for
heightening emotions.

We authors bleed for you.We really do.

What were three
challenges you faced when writing your book?

1) Time

2)Faith

3)Discipline

What lessons have
you learned as an aspiring writer?

I’ve learned that reading is a transaction: In exchange
for the reader’s time, the writer promises to leave him or her with something
so special, the reader’s life will never be completely the same again.If the author fails to deliver, then he’s
cheated the reader.

That’s what motivated me in writing The Second Coming: A Love Story.It would break my heart to cheat the reader, and no matter your personal
beliefs or religion, I GUARANTEE YOU that this story will challenge your
world-view.Every line and every word
has been painstakingly written to maximize the value the reader receives…
because if you’re not happy with the transaction, it means I’ve failed as a
writer.

And I don’t like failing.

Do you ever
experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to ‘overcome’?

The great thing about writing is the “Delete” button.Even if it’s drivel, just start over and
continue writing!Eventually, if you
keep pounding away, you’ll work through your mental malaise.The burden is on YOU not to surrender.

It’s what separates the authors from the wannabes.

Every story has its challenges.Just don’t give up, and have the confidence
to modify your outline when, for whatever reason, things don’t go according to
plan.In the words of the esteemed
American philosopher Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan – until they get hit in
the face.”

There’s a lot of wisdom to that: You’ve either battle
through the headshots or change your plan.

What is the most
important thing you’ve learned, either in the self-publishing or traditional
publisher, route?

Nothing moves… until you personally push it.

What part of the
writing process do you enjoy the most?

The opportunity to (briefly) excise the Demons deep inside
my head.

(Or sometimes, just keep ‘em
company for a while.)

What part of the
process becomes the most critical for you?

By far, the most critical aspect is writing to the
audience and not to yourself.It’s the
biggest mistake in the business world, too: Assuming that your personal likes
& dislikes are identical to those of your target audience.It’s the number one reasons why businesses
die and marketing campaigns fail.

If you’re writing just to amuse yourself, then please,
PLEASE don’t publish it.It’s
disrespectful to the reader.

How long does it
usually take for you to complete a book?

Well, this book took me 15 long, tortuous, agonizing
years!Argh!!If I live to be 75, this book will have
devoured 20 percent of my entire life!

(‘Course, the metrics are skewed somewhat, because part of
the time was spent developing the total story arc, which will include the next
two books in the trilogy.Still, it’s a
lot of work!)

Do you have any
ideas for your book and Hollywood? Actors, directors, music.

Of course!(My last
film, National Lampoon’s Strip Poker,
didn’t – ahem – win many awards.I blame
politics.Interestingly, I also appeared
in the Academy Award-nominated documentary A
Perfect Candidate, and I starred in Academy Award-nominated director Brett
Morgen’s film Ollie’s Army in
college.)

I’ll keep my casting wish-list to myself for the time
being… but rest assured, Scarlett Johansson will be invited to the casting
couch auditions.

Which book to
movie conversion is your favourite?

The Shawshank
Redemption.Wow… what a
masterpiece!

Do you watch a
lot of science fiction or fantasy movies?

Yes… in particular, the adolescent boy in me still has a
soft spot for superhero films.(And
whenever I get an X-ray at the doctor’s office, I’m always a little
disappointed when it fails to give me mutant powers.Eh.Maybe next time.)

Do you study
science, the planets, history, or anything special to help you with your
writing?

I study all of the above, but not just for writing: I’m
intensely interested in learning more about the universe.

What, who, and
when first inspired you to write?

What inspired me was a love of books – but also a dissatisfaction with
books. All authors hope to capture an emotion, or tell a story, in ways
never before imagined. We’re driven by this obsessive need to take a blank
canvas – and then paint a picture of such poignant originality, others are
inspired by it.

There wasn’t one seminal moment that led me to be a writer, but a
multitude of smaller moments. I tried fighting it. Lord, I tried
fighting it! But after the first few decades-or-so, I began to feel like
I was constantly swimming upstream against the universal current, exhausting
myself to stay some place I didn’t belong.

So I guess more than anything, I became a writer because I had
exhausted all other options.

Personal info:

Drink –Yeungling
/ Rolling Rock

Food –Buffalo
wings / nachos

Vacation –Anywhere
with my family… heck, I’d follow ‘em to the ends of the earth (where I presume
there’s a beach?)

TV show –All-time
favourite: Sledghammer! & The Sopranos.Now: Pardon
the Interruption & Game of
Thrones.

Movie –Roadhouse (You go,
Dalton!)

Animal – My
10-year-old, 220-pound American Mastiff (“Woof!”) Leon

Sport –Football,
boxing, politics

Book –Atlas Shrugged, The Law, Illusions, Brain Droppings.(When I was a kid, I loved Tom Fitzgerald’s
“Great Brain” series.)

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About Me

I am a mother, a sister, an author, a cat, dog, and pet lover and most of all a lover of life who is thankful for all my blessings. I find myself in a place many consider to be "midlife". I see this time as new beginnings and new opportunities! No matter where you are in your life, NEVER GIVE UP!